Download CBMN Paddlefish June 2015

Vol. 7 No. 6
Cypress Basin Texas Master Naturalist Chapter Newsletter
June 2015
Mission of the Texas Master Naturalist
To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service
dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their
communities for the State of Texas.
2015 OFFICERS
Stella Barrow - President
Betty Morgan - Vice President
Kristi Thomas - Secretary
Karen Williams – Treasurer
Linda Richtsmeier – Membership Chairman
Pat Sawyer - Webmaster
Vanessa Adams Neace - Advisor
Doug Weir -Advisor
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
June 16, 2015 6:30 pm
City of Jefferson Multi-Purpose Center
305 East Austin St.
Monarch Butterflies by ViAnn Sawyer
Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac by Pam Watts
Snippets
from
Stella
The May meeting was a busy and good one. I think it is a VERY good thing for us to invite
other chapters to our meetings and it would be a VERY good thing for us to make a road trip to
other chapter meetings. Two years ago, we had a visit from the Highland Lakes chapter near
Austin and now the group from Rio Brazos. It is a VERY good thing to hear what other
chapters are doing. Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the star-gazing party information that
Dayna Inbody, Rio Brazos president, shared with us. I believe we could put one together but
it will require a long term plan. Not sure we can do it in 2015, but we can discuss more in July.
One of the points I got from the Rio Brazos group was the importance of partnering with other
entities. In our area that could be the State Park, the Refuge, The Friends of the Refuge and
Collins Academy among others. Put on your thinking caps and let’s discuss ideas for forming
those partnerships.
I am asking for an exploratory committee to be formed to research other meeting places. The
desirable criteria is to have our equipment and supplies at the same meeting location; a
location that is convenient to as many members as possible; a location where we won’t be
cancelled or “shushed” and a location where we can enjoy our pot luck dinners. Pat Sawyer is
developing a map with pin points where we are located as a population. If you would like to
be on this committee, please let me know. We don’t need more than 5 members. Send me an
email at [email protected] if you are interested in this volunteer opportunity.
We will likely be re-baiting the EAB traps this month, so be on the lookout for that volunteer
opportunity. It’s HOT outside – be smart when you are out there!
SB
CYPRESS BASIN TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST
MEETING MINUTES
MAY 19, 2015
ATTENDING: 25 members - Pat and ViAnn Sawyer, Sue Simmons, Linda Richtsmeier, Ted and Stella Barrow,
Charles Gillis, David Skinner, Phyllis Wilson, Nancy Rheay, Betty Morgan, Becky Gullette, Kristi Thomas,
Vanessa Neace, Susan and Steve Sedberry, Tom Walker, Kay Watson, Jill Wright, Pamela Andrews, Darrell
Hudson, Pam Watts, Barbara Judkins, Michael Matthews, Karen Williams, and guests Wendy and Dave
Moore, Chris and Dayna Inbody, and Libby Horton.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President Stella Barrow.
WELCOME: Stella welcomed 2015 members in attendance Susan and Steve Sedberry, Jill Wright, Nancy
Rheay, Michael Matthews, and Pam Watts. Also welcomed were TMN Rio Brazos members and guests Wendy
and Dave Moore, and Dana and Chris Inbody, and Libby Horton of Collins Academy.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES: Sue motioned, Linda seconded motion to approve the minutes
as issued; member vote via email later approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Karen reported balance of $4,182.00, and with funds from regatta of $2,868.85 total is
$7,047.85. Sue motioned to approve, Linda seconded, and member vote via email later approved.
ADVANCED TRAINING: Dayna Inbody, President of Rio Brazos Chapter of TMN, gave a very Informative and
enlightening presentation on how their chapter has organized and grown an annual star-gazing party as their
group project. Dayna shared pointers and tips that they have learned as they are approaching the fourth year
of this event, answered questions, and displayed items and photos and a lot of good information for the
group.
PADDLEFISH FESTIVAL: (VO) Libby Horton of Collins Academy reiterated the fact that volunteer opportunities
are coming up for the Paddlefish Festival 5/20-5/22, detailed events of each day, and passed sign-up sheets
around for upcoming events and later opportunities.
GENERAL ITEMS
OLD BUSINESS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES
REFUGE TRAIL MAINTENANCE: (VO) Charles advised that with all the rain trails are still soggy, so it may be a
while before access is possible.
MARSHALL ELEMENTARY: Stella praised Betty, Nancy, Sandra, Gary, Deanne, Jerry, Carl, Charles, Jill, Betty,
Ted, Barbara, and Vanessa for making this recent VO such a success, and acknowledged that this was in large
part due to Betty’s superb organization beforehand!
HISTORIC SITE FREE DAY: Another successful VO was acknowledged by Stella, thanks to Barbara, Susan, Steve,
Linda, Karen, and Pam!
KAYAK RAFFLE: It was decided that the kayak will be set up and remaining tickets sold 5/22 at the Paddlefish
Festival, with drawing to be held and kayak given away at end of the day.
NEW BUSINESS
WORK DAY 6/20: (VO) Next volunteer workday is set for 6/20. Vanessa reported that student intern Hunter
Hanley has arrived and is living in the classroom, so it will be important to make sure to communicate
schedules; Vanessa has his phone number. Becky is to email with details of what will be available to work on.
PADDLEFISH FESTIVAL: (VO) Discussed and made sure everyone who is volunteering has signed up.
CHICKEN TURTLE TRACKING: (VO) Vanessa went over opportunities; one with Laura Speight Is chicken turtle
tracking, another is on native grasses, and there will be an urban dove survey in Longview. Details will follow.
ADJOURNMENT: with .5 hrs. volunteer time and 1.0 hour advanced training, plus travel. Social hour with the
Rio Brazos guests at Auntie Skinner’s to follow.
VO = Volunteer Opportunity
Submitted by Kristi Thomas, Secretary
SPEAKING OF BUTTERFLIES....
Hopefully some of you are witnessing the blooming of the Passionflower on your property at
this time. It's beautiful and also a butterfly magnet. The following information about the plant
is from the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Passiflora incarnata L.
Purple passionflower, Purple passion vine, Maypop, Apricot vine
Passifloraceae (Passion-Flower Family)
Purple passion-flower is an herbaceous vine, up to 25 ft. long, that climbs with axillary tendrils or sprawls along the
ground. Intricate, 3 in., lavender flower are short-stalked from leaf axils. The petals and sepals subtend a fringe of
wavy or crimped, hair-like segments. The pistil and stamens are also showy. Three-lobed, deciduous leaves are darkgreen above and whitish below. The fruit is a large, orange-yellow berry with edible pulp. Like some other passion
vines, Maypop spreads by root suckers.
This unusual flower is widely distributed in the Southeast, especially from Florida to Texas. The plants were given the
name Passionflower or Passion vine because the floral parts were once said to represent aspects of the Christian
crucifixion story, sometimes referred to as the Passion. The 10 petal-like parts represents the disciples of Jesus,
excluding Peter and Judas; the 5 stamens the wounds Jesus received; the knob-like stigmas the nails; the fringe the
crown of thorns. The name Maypop comes from the hollow, yellow fruits that pop loudly when crushed. Yellow Passion
Flower (P. lutea), a small yellow-flowered species, occurs from southeast Pennsylvania to Florida, west to Texas and
Oklahoma, and north to Missouri, Illinois, and West Virginia.
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Size Notes: Climber
Flower:
Fruit: Yellow
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
BLOOM INFORMATION
Bloom Color: Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
GROWING CONDITIONS
Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, non-saline clays, loams, sands.
BENEFIT
Use Ornamental: Showy, Blooms ornamental, Ground cover, Arbor, Twines on fences & other plants, Climbs walls &
columns
Use Wildlife: Fruit-birds.
Use Food: Fruits consumed by indigenous people.
Use Medicinal: Amerindians poulticed root for boils, cuts, earaches and inflammation. (Foster & Duke) Tea used to
sooth nerves; Inca brewed tonic; crushed leaves in poultices on cuts and bruises. (1 teaspoon dried leaves per cup of
boiling water, steep 10 or 15 min) for insomnia, 1 cup at bedtime, as tonic up to 3 cups/day. (Castleman)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, Crimson-patch longwing, Red-banded hairstreak, Julia butterfly, Mexican
butterfly.
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Gulf Fritillary
Purple Passionflower
Banded Hairstreak
Red-Banded Hairstreak
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 16: Cypress Basin MN monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m.
June 16: Project WILD training at Collins Academy 9:00-4:00
June 20: Work Day at the Refuge, 9:00 a.m.
October 23-25: Texas Master Naturalist State Meeting in Marble Falls